Inside The Indie Author with Magnolia Xen
- Diana Kathryn
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not?
Yes, I write under my pseudonym. I am an accountant and don’t want my clients connecting my spicy shifter romance writing with how I handle their money. I’m starting to slowly transition from being a full-time accountant to a full-time author, but I think I will continue to write under my pseudonym.
What is your “go-to” method for working through or around writer’s block?
I’m a panster, so for this reason I don’t feel like I have writers block because I write the scenes when they come to me. I have not so far experienced anything that would let me know I’m suffering from writer’s block. However, I will say that reading always inspires me. I start to think how I would have written specific scenes differently than how the author did.
From your perspective, what are the most important elements of good writing?
I think it’s the characters. They speak to me, in dreams, moments while I’m watching tv, walking down the aisles in the supermarket. They make themselves known, so who am I to ignore them? Without them there would be no story, from me at least.
What comes first – the location, the plot, or the characters – and why?
The characters come to me first. They also tell me what they think the plot should be, and all they want me to do is make sure it makes sense to the readers. That I fill all the plot holes in my required mystery, or whatever happily ever after they want to happen. Most of the time, I’m not sure of any of those things when I start a new book.
What are your least favorite and most favorite things about publishing a book?
The most favorite part of publishing to me, is that I had the courage to get all the crazy out of my head, in print, and out to the masses. The worst part is marketing. Finding the right reader for my form of what I call therapy, is harder than anything I’ve done so far as a self-published author.
What is a significant way your book changed from the first to the final draft?
My first draft consisted of 265,000 words. I had to remove a lot of scenes that I now know are called "darlings." I removed approximately 26,000 words that didn’t move my main character's story forward. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be, but those darlings are now a part of a novella I am including with my duology. Especially for my beta readers that fell in love with those characters and wanted them to have their own happily ever after.
What was the inspiration for your most recent book?
My most recent book is my paranormal historical vampire romance. She will loosely be based off true events that happened to my grandmother. The Scars of Victoria will release October of 2026. She is becoming my labor of love, and I can’t wait for the readers to find her.
What is a “darling” you’ve killed in a book that you’d like to resurrect in a future book?
So far, I don’t have any darlings that I have killed off that I want to resurrect. I put a lot of thought into the characters I unalive. Their deaths usually support the plot of the story for the main characters. So, I can’t imagine how I would bring them back.
Where are your most productive writing spaces, and what elements are important about that space to keep you focused on writing.
I do my best writing, in my bedroom, sitting in my Ikea rocker, with my iPad, and my writing blanket. My Maine Coon kitty, Enzo, is on the bed, periodically checking to make sure I don’t move while he’s keeping an eye on me.
If you were to give one of your side characters a novella of their own, who would it be, and why do you think they need their own story?
Alpha Samuel Jacobs, who was a secondary character in Jaidan’s Prophecy, is the main character in his novella, Alpha Samuel, Chosen Not Fated. My beta den readers, as well as myself, fell in love with him and wanted him to have his happily ever after.
What risks have you taken with your writing that made the book better?
Deciding that I can write spicy paranormal shifter romance, in a market that hasn’t seen a lot of black people writing in the paranormal space. Choosing to write un-apologetically, and creatively me is paying off with great reviews, increased sales and pages read, and hopefully I’m making a place for me and my brand of crazy in this sub genre.
What’s the best monetary investment you’ve ever made with regard to your writing practice?
First deciding to self-publish is a huge financial cost. Add to that, I created my own publishing imprint using my pseudonym. Purchasing my own ISBN’s, paying for my copyrights. Finally, finding and paying a professional editor. This was a big investment but one that was needed. I’m currently contracted to get my debut duology; A Jaidan’s Prophecy & Fated Mates Omnibus made into an audiobook that I am using my savings on. It will have multi-cast voice actors and release on the anniversary of debut release. Getting this professionally edited was important for the audiobook to sound as amazing as the book reads.
When you first began writing, what was a common procrastination trap you encountered, and how did you overcome it?
When I first started writing, I didn’t have anything that made me procrastinate. I have an overwriting problem. Now that I have opened the flood gates the characters won’t stop talking. I’m constantly having to remove scenes from stories that don’t move them forward. But I don’t mind so much because I know they will show up in another character’s story eventually.
What is your writing software of choice, and what is its best feature?
I use Atticus writing software. I love its design feature. Once I set it up for one book, I can just copy it for another book. This ensures all my books have my unique look across books. It also allows me to create master copyright pages that can be added to each book without me having to copy and paste, just update.
Do characters’ names come immediately to you? Do you add them in a final draft? Where do you find names, and how do you make a final decision about the names you’ll use?
Character names come to me when they start talking to me. I have yet to change a main character’s name, not sure that will continue to be the case since I’m only in my first year of being an author. The names that I usually must come up with are the names of the shifter characters. Those I usually research historical names for what they are, and from what region the characters are from. Some are names of friends, family, etc. but mostly Google.
Tell us the title of one of your favorite novels, and why this book is a favorite.
A Jaidan’s Prophecy Duology is my favorite novel. It’s my first and will always be my baby.
Think of the title of a hugely popular novel. What is one major thing you would change about the book?
I don’t think I would change any other author’s work. I feel like they had a reason behind what they wrote and I respect that for them. What I will do is use what I think would have made it better to me, in my novels and secretly hope my novel becomes a hugely popular novel.
What are you reading right now?
I just finished reading B.O.S.S. by Vera T. Brown. It’s a paranormal gargoyle romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you could take on the identity of a character in one of your favorite books for twenty-four hours and retain the memory of that experience, which character would you choose? Tell us the title, author, character name, and why you would want to be that character.
I have no idea. I grew up reading historical romance novels written by Bertrice Smalls and Judith McNaught. I loved being able to escape into the worlds they built, however, being a black woman, I know my experience wouldn’t be the same.
Tell us a little something about your current WIP. When do you expect it to be released?
I have three WIPs. My Paranormal Dragon Shifter Romance, Destiny Be Damned, releasing March 10, 2026. My Paranormal Wolf Shifter Romance Novela, Alpha Samuel ~ Chosen ~ Not Fated, releasing July 2026 with A Jaidan’s Prophecy Fated Mates Omnibus. And finally, my Paranormal Historical Vampire Romance, The Scars of Victori, that will release October 2026. I’m not sure the exact date at the moment.
What are the titles and genres of each book you’ve written?
The Alpha’s Potential Mate ~ Book One – Paranormal Wolf Shifter Romance
The Alpha Queen’s Mate ~ Book Two – Paranormal Wolf Shifter Romance
How can readers find you? Website, social media, amazon author page… share all the links!
https://www.magnoliaxen.com – My personal website. Books come signed with swag, shipping included for the same price as on Amazon.
Comments